davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

Mr.. EDITOR !: I think "W. P. e." is
correct when he says that the interest in
schools ia daily increasing; and we
should aiLhail the awakening with de-
light, andgby proper agitation keep the
ball in motion, until system Of schools
is developed that will meet the wants OF
the people. In our section of the county
greater interest is being manifested in
the cause of education than has been
done for, some time past. Without en-
teringS into any discussson of the defects
the free school system, but simply taking
itasit is, ] think that there is much that
can be done to improve our schools, and
elevate our profession. The demand is
for better schools and better teachers, and
NE, who expect to meet the requirements
of the times, must bestir ourselves. We
must lay hold of every advantage offered
ms for improvement, or we will be called
upon toigive place to others better pre-
pared to meet the needs of the case. In
view of, the above facts, I think the out.
looktor ourprofession is brighter than it
has ever been before, if we will only
aplsy our part"
Thanks to You for your suggestion in
regard To- onr special needs in the way OF
a:battar.b building. Our people are now
discussing tbe matter seriously, and ]
feel assured that at mo distant day, We
will enjoy an academy second to none in
the county. ). +. >.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
A Roaring Sen Of Flame.

CHICAGO, April IA special from
Atchison, Kansas, says: "N1o less than
fifteen persons have been burned to death
by prairie fires, which, starting near Nico.
demus, Graham County, have swept
northwest on an air line into Norton
County, destroying everything in their
path, that in places is from two and a
half TO seven miles wide. A great roar
ing sea of fame rolling in sheets under
the impetus of high wind which pre-
vailed all day and night Saturday.
Starting on the South Fork Of Solomon
River, in Graham County, the fire swept
north to North Fork which it crossed at
Edmond, a station on the Central Branch
Railroad in Norton County, and at last
accounts it was still sweeping towards the
northwest diagonally across Norton
County in the direction of Decatur, an
adjoining county on the west, carrying
destruction and death in its path.
Thousands of head of stock of all kinds
have been burned, and thousands of tons
of hay, corn and wheat, and from 100 to
It's houses and barns have been destroy
ed. People living along the line of the
fire have been left homeless and destitute.
1t is impossible as yet to learn the
names of those who perished. Tremen-
dous excitement prevails all through the
burned district, which extends distance
of over sixty miles in length by two to
seven in breadth, with the Ere still spread
ing northwest.
Sioux FALLS, DAcoTA, April 12.-
Reports of the loss Of property from
prairie fires during the terrible wind storm
of Friday and Saturday continue to come
in. Eighteen miles west of this city a
tremendous fire started and swept the
country for miles. Henry Strallen, {,
George Fallor, John jacobson and P. M.
Hall lost their houses and con tents, and
also their barns, farm machinery, grain
and stock. James Hutchinson, G. E.
Greenlau. w. S. Brooks, William Igo
and Edward Walker lost their barns and
contents. Other losses are indefinitely
reported. 1t was the most destructive
fire that ever visited this part of the
country, and the total loss vii exceed
100000.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
Section 1912 of the school law says:
sgEha Boards Of Trustees shall have
authority and it shall be their duty \
4 t0semploy teachers, etc" :"

= toemploy teachers, etc"
Trustees have not observed this I'M
por.ant matter as they ought to have
done. ut has been the custom all over
the county to allow the people to
select the teacher !; aud that selection
has, ;beeu made generally just about in
thisaay.Someman, or woman concludes
to teach at b certain place. He goes
around among the patrons and gets SIS
many as possible to promise to send to
him. Nine ont of ten of the patrons are
indifferentas to.who teaches, just so some.
body keeps the children out of their
way; and; consequently, agree and prom
ise to send TO tho first man or woman
who askssfor patronage. The teacher,
having the promise Of twenty or thirty
pupils, announces that he will open
school on certain day, without once
consulting the trustees about it. Fee
quently a very inferior teacher gets pos.
session of school in this way. The
trustees pay no attention to the matter
unMitha teacher comes up with his
papers for approval. All this is wrong,
and grew ont of the dereliction of trus.
tees. No teacher ought to be allowed to
teach a day without being able to show a
written statement, or contract: over the
signatures of the board of trustees, and
no such contract ought to be signed by
the trustees until after the applicants
moral character and past record have
undergone q thorough examination.
But, you cay, the man has certificate
from the County Board of Examiners.
Very good-suppose he has. A man may
have good moral character and pass a
satisfactory examination before the
Board, and yet be Objectionable as a
teacher.
But, again, we are confronted with the
suggestion that trustees get no pay for
stheirswork, and that they can not reason
ably be expected to do much Of it. The
law does not expect, OF require, much
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

for man and beast, which every farmer
can and should make, there comes his
money crop.
For the farmer in the South that mon.
ey crop is, and for an indefinite time it
must be, cotton. We, of course, except
localities like that contiguous to our
magic City," We say it is and must be
cotton. And spite Of all that has been
said and written derogatory to our great
staple, it ia the best and surest money
crop in the world. Either in the form in
which it comes from the farm or as
manufactured goods, we send our cotton
to every part of the globe. The demand
for it is universal, constant, Unsuitable.
Compare cotton viii the staple money
crops of the North. Take wheat, for
instance. Two acres of fair average land
yield thirty bushels Of wheat. Two acres
of like land in the South yield one bale
ofcotton. Thecotto weighs 450 pounds,
the wheat 1900 pounds, or four times as
much. Still, the cotton will bring con.
siderably more at its ultimate destination
than the wheat will. Discrimination and
competition may modify the economic
law, but the law itself is automatic.
That is the best crop which comprises
the greatest value in the least bulk and
weight.
Moreover considerable per cent. Of
the mineral constituents of the soil is
exported in the wheat, and to preserve
at average fertility, the farmer must re-
place these by the use of bought fertilizers.
Cotton exported takes nothing from the
soil, and to preserve its average fertility,
it is only necessary that the farmer restore
to the soil the seed taken from it, either
the raw seed or the dropping of animals
fed on it.
Again, England and the Continent
grow wheat, some of the European ma
tions raising large quantities for export.
India, Australia and British Columbia
have become formidable competitors of
our wheat growing regions, and new
fields are being opened up every year.
Years may come when the flush supply
of wheat abroad will reduce the price 80
low as to stop its expectation from our
country. But the expectation of cotton
will never be stopped. AS producer of
the cotton the world wants, the South
has no rival on the globe and never will
have.
In presenting the merits of our great
staple as money crop, ne would not dis.
suade Southern farmers in favored local.
tiles from producing other things instead
of cotton for market. Dairying, garden.
ing, fruitraising, and the growth and
fatteniDg of beeves, sheep and hogs for
the butcher, are, in many places, far
more profitable than the raising of cotton.
But except in such places, cotton is our
best money crop, and for the reasons we
have stated, the best money crop in the
world.-Me Ne10 South.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

vas to plead insanity for the negro who
confessed, who by the way, came back to
Yorkville acting his part admirably
The other string was to get change Of
venue; and I assure you that if this had
succeeded they would have been acquit-
ted, for, as 1 have told you before, there
was no proof sgainst the accused but
what would have been ruled out under
the rules of evidence.
Another fact which led me to pursue
the course did was this: The prisoners,
if tried together, would have been able
to exhaust the jury box down to the very
dregs, and been able to secure twelve
such scoundrels as themselves, who
would certainly bring in verdict of
acquittal. Some people ask me why l
did not wait until the law had taken it's
course: and then, they say, if it failed to
convict, it was time enough for me to
act. To this I will say Simply because
did not wish to murder" a man whom
the law said was innocent. I have no
desire for revenge, but I have a love for
justice. My labor fer the past few years
has not been to promote the interest of
lawlessness, but to promote the interest
of law.
In my Court the sharpest lawyer does
not win the case, and it must be arranged
so in yours, or Ishall continue to preside.
In my Courts the accused is not
allowed to choose his own jury, manage
to prolong the trial until nightfall, have
the Court adjourned and get his friends
10 buy such of the scoundrels as will sell
out, and if they can't buy all, at least
manage to get mistrial. l have seen
this occur time aud again in your Courts,
Change it or you cannot compete with
me.
In my Courts there are no rules of
evidence which make it necessary for the
witness to see the crime committed and
don't allow him to hear or know fact
in any other way but seeing.
In my Courts all that the jury need to
enable them to bring in verdict of
guilty is to become thoroughly satisfied
that the accused is guilty. Many a time
have heard one of your jurymen, after
sitting on case and bringing in ver-
dict of acquittal, say that the accused
was as guilty as could be, but it could
not be proved" Then have l been
tempted to take the case in hand, but
forebore, on account of my respect for
the law. Look to this fact or 1 will.
In this same county, in which have
recently been operating, not more than
two years ago man was tried for arson.
He was acquitted in the face of the most
damning proof. he had committed the
deed for spite, anu alser nls acqulttai he
boastipgly acknowledged it.
Twas asked why did not look after
this case. I Isimply replied that it was
too late now. The law has now taken its
course. Hundreds of cases of like
character may b. cited from all parts of
the State, and still you condemn me. If
you don't do something with your jury
system, your lawyers and your rules of
evidence pretty soon, l shall assume
Jurisdiction in more cases than those with
which have recently been dealing.
Respectfully, JUDGE LYNCH.
Yorkville, Apri! -, 1887.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

fined and imprisoned. His lawyer made
a pathetic appeal for mercy and held up
the daily newspaper that had in one col.
umn an account of the trial and in the
other the displayed advertisement of the
Louisiana lottery with two distinguished
confederate generals as its godfathers.
But enough of this. I have not writ.
ten it for invidious comparison, but as
food for thought. There are many
thinkers in the land both North and
South. We are living for our children
and our children's children, and it
becomes US all to guard we'll the bull
warks of our social system.
BILL ARP.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
Short Burrows a Waste.

Many calculations have been made to
prove the waste of time consequent upon
short burrows. Under average circum'
stances pair of horses will plow an acre
of grass land in a day of nine hours.
On turnip land, Of the same quality,
rather more than an acre will be plowed
in day, and on stubble land one and
one quarter acres. A considerable differ
ence will, of course, be found in the
work accomplished by different horses
and men, even on the same land. With
a furrow nine inches wide, exactly
eleven miles are travelled in plowing an
acre. A quarter of day or more is
generally used in turning at the head,
land. Time and labor are saved by run
ming the fufrows the longest way Of the
field, as the number of turns is thereby
diminished.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

work of the trustees, but what it does
require ought to be paid for. Still they
are not paid, and we must deal with
things as we find them. Rather than
half do the work required of them, or
reduce their actual labor to the minimum,
on account of no remuneration, it would
be better for the trustees to resign and
let some body else try it. Each board OF
trustees ought to have at least one meet
ing each month during the school session,
and one meeting month before the
session begins. At the regular monthly
meetings they should require all the
teachers in the township to be present,
with their reports properly made out,
giving special attention to the total en-
rollment and the average attendance.
When the papers are overhauled in the
presence of the teachers, then they should
be approved. Not only this: at these
regular meetings, which might be held at
some school. house in the township, the
whole day should be spent in regular
school room work. This plan has been
tried in two of the townships and works
well. The trustees and teachers get
better acquainted with one another, and
the fraternal feeling existing among the
teachers is deepened and widened. At
the meeting held one month, or longer,
before the session begins, propositions of
applicants for schools should be consid.
cred aud contracts drawn. This seems
to be asking but little of trustees, and ne
are sure such plan would bring good
results. t
The Williamson trustees, who have
had regular monthly meetings, propose
to employ their teachers for the next
session, and to do it in time to get good
ones. Their purpose is to stop the prac.
tice of approving The claims of any
teacher who happens to suit the Wnlms
of community, however loose his meth.
DDS (want of method), or however worth.
less he may be as teacher. Not only
so; they propose to provide a nice little
library Of tgto or three dozen books for
the exclusive use of their teachers, and
to take for each one or two papers. In
other words. Lander and Hogg and Rich
ardson arc wide awake and are moving
up things. Lander is Professor in the
College at Williamston-he gives his
attention to this matter freely and cheer
fully; Hogg and Richardson are two Of
the best farmers in their district-they
give their time cheerfully and are grow.
ing in interest.
Other trustees in the county are just
as able and willing as these. We do
hope they will lay some plans and exc
cute them.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
STEALING EXTRAORDINARY.

PITTsBuRe, Pa, April 1.-THE most
important arrests ever made in this part
of the country begun at an early hour
this morning. They will not be COM
plete before late this evening, and at that
time the officers of the Pan Handle
Railroad will have in custody the most
daring gang of railroad robbers this
country has ever known. How many
members belong to it are not known, but
they run up into the hundreds. Their
stealings extend over period of two or
three years, and the amount stolen
reaches nearly half q million dollars.
Simultaneous arrests are being made all
along the line of the Pan Handle Road
between here and Columbus.
Warrants have been in the hands of
officers for some time, and the persons
arrested will comprise nearly all the
freight men of the line and include con-
ductors, brakemen, engineers and fire.
men. The ringleaders of the gang, who
are outside the railroad business, are
known and some Of them are now be.
lieved to be under arrest. The first
arrests were made about 2 o'clock this
morning, the police surprising eighteen
men at their boarding houses and taking
them at once to Jail. Further arrests
were made between 2 o'clock and day
light, when forty.six men-all railroad
employees, conductors, brakemen, fire.
men and engineers-were behind the
bars.
In speaking of the arrests, prominent
officer of the Pan Handle Road said
"For three years .past The Pan Handle
Road has been systematically robbed.
Cars on sidings and cars in moving trains
were broken open and goods stolen,
including every description of merchan'
disc. It is estimated that at least $780,
600 worth of goods we're taken, for which
the company had to pay. In August last
we got clue, and the company deter.
mined to push it to the end. Detectives
were employed, who followed up every
scent, and finally We had information
upon which to proceed, when everything
was ready. We had decided to make q
move all along the line from Columbus
to Pittsburg, and 2 o'clock this morning
was the hour fixed to strike the blow.
About eighty warrants were issued fol
men in Pittsburg. l cannot tell how
many for other places, bat at every point
along the line it will run up into the
hundreds. 1t is the biggest thing Of the
kind that ever happened in Pittsburg OF
in railroad matters iu the world, for moth.
ing like it has ever happened before. ]
cannot tell who the men are under arrest
or who the ringleaders are. This much
l will say, however: We suspect out
siders of being implicated in the rob-
berries, but know nothing positive"
Among the prisoners is man named
Baker, against whom there are thirty
eight charges. Early one morning, some
months ago, at Sheridan, station neal
this city, train was stopped for wator
An attack was made on the crew, and ir
the fight the fireman WAS shot. HI
afterwards died from his injuries. Al
.daybreak it WAS found that two cars had
been broken open and their contents
stolen. Baker is accused of firing the
shot that killed the fireman, and this il
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
Mr.. Peterkin,s Method of Procuring
Pure Cotton Seed,

take this method of replying to the
numerous letters, asking how to improve
and keep cotton seed pure.
We must first decide upon the kind of
cotton we want. You must have an ob.
ject in view. you want prolific cot
ton, select from small or dwarfed stalks
that are not highly fertilized; but such
selection will not stand drought when
full of fruit. My idea is to have stalk,
leaf, limbs and fruitin proportion, and
roots will be there to penetrate the earth
to feed it with fertilizer and moisture.
It is mistake to select seed from a
highly fertilized pet patch. 1t tshould be
on lands that are not cotton sick. 1t
should be after grain or one or two years
rested, and lightly fertilized, then pick
or select such stalks as have bolls on
every limb and of uniform size. If you
can get stalk three feet high and as
broad as it is tall, with three bolls to the
limb, each boil the same dimensions,
you would have fine selection to start
with, but such stalk is hard to find.
Bolls all of one size is one of the prin-
cipal points in selecting. Cotton that
has been selected for its many bolls are
not uniform. The first boil on the limb,
we will say, is one and fourth inches in
diameter. the second is one inch and the
third is three.fourths of an inch, and the
fourth sheds of. The largest boil makes
by far more lint than the second, and ne
can't measure our crop by the second and
say it is an average of the three, any
more than we can cay three twelye.inch
logs will make as much lumber as one
thirty six inches in diameter.
When you find stalk that suits you,
drive stick by it, and plant it by itself
the nextyear. One stalk is enough tostart
with. Be sure not to fertilize your patch
too highly. When you get good cotton
let it alone. Don't take every peddlers's
seed that comes along. 1 have no doub
but that every man thinks his seed is
| the best and is honest in what he says,
but some of them are mistaken because
they don't know ~ good cotton from q
bad one. Seed are often mixed at the
gins, also by fertilizing with seed.
don't gin for my neighbors, and
allow but one kind of seed to be planted
on the farm. Cotton is not apt to mix
or cross from the polin, as the bloom is
always up and follows the sun around
and is shortlived. 1t opens after sunrise
and shuts up as the sun goes down never
to open again. It is also we'll coated with
honey, which holds the polin in. 1t is
never blown about as corn polin, and is
only carried by bees or man. AS the
bees gather the honey the polin sticks to
their legs. Honey was not made for man
alone, but for the purpose of carrying the
polin down into the seedmaking depart
ment of the flower. The dew absorbs it.
and it then carries the polin to its needed
place.. d. Psterkin, in Weekly Neaus
/ and Courier.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

= When man says he thanks the
Lord that be hasn't wife, every woman
in the land should respond with hearty
amen.
"A roasted or boiled lemon, filled
while hot with sugar, aud eaton still hot,
Just before retiring, will often break up
cold.
= Prosperity is only blessing when
we truly thank God for it and Use it as
furtherance of our eternal happiness.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
The Handkerchief Cure.

Poet and Editor James R. Randall
created sensation in Augusta the other
day. A street.car horse became unruly
and male passenger proposed throwing
sand in the animals eyes. "Oh, nop
said the colonel, "don't do that; it is
unnecessary and inhuman. The poor
beast only needs to be diverted. Tie q
handkerchief around his fore leg and he
will start off promptly. The driver
agreed to try it, and the horse moved at
once. Then the driver snatched his
whip, looked at the colonel and OK.
claimed: "If that don't beat the
Dutch."- ."-Philadelphia Times. &.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

Mr.. j. P. Smith strikes the key note
when hes esa5s, The demand is for better
school. aud better teachers" Give us bet.
tor teachers and we will have better
schools. We have pleaded long and
patiently for better teachers. better
patrons, (more thoughtful, more earnest,
more deeply interested patrons), better
houses, and better schools. Our friend is
right again when he says that public
interest in the cause of education is on
the up grade. Especially is that the case
in the neightorhood Of historic old Slab.
town. What criticism We had to make
OF the school.house at that place was
prompted by the kindliest of motives,
and We are certainly grati6ed to learn
that the good people thereabouts took it
in that way. Our plain duty is to turn
every possible! stone to improve the
schools, let tho public school system be
what it may. If what We said has at all
shaken the sleeping energies of the in
telligent citizens ofSlabtown and vicinity,
we are grateful. And, now, in behalf of
"W. P. H." We. thank Mr.. Smith for his
timely exhortation. Al good sermon has
been followed by a good e1hortation.
Let the ball roll! Who next?
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21
TEiA6HERs'GoLUMN.
j. q. CLINKsCALEs, EDITOR.

Prof. W. S. Morrison, who conducted
our Institute last year and the year before
to the great satisfaction and delight of
all concerned, will be with us at Will
aliamston, and, though not one of the in
structors this time, will favor the Insti-
tute With two or three of his interesting
lectures. Prof. Morrison has very great
" endeared himself to our teachers, and
all will be pleased to meet him again.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-21

- Use buttermilk for the removal Of
tan and walnut stains and frsckles.